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HIGHWAY EROSION RESEARCH STUDIES

RESEARCH STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE ROADSIDE EROSION PROCESS AND THE MEASUREMENT OF EFFECTIVE STABILIZATION FOR VARIOUS TECHNIQUES. THE RESEARCH SITES WERE LOCATED IN THE UPPER REACH OF THE COOSA WATERSHED, PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ARE TO: (1) EVALUATE THE FACTORS AFFECTING RATES OF RUNOFF, EROSION AND SEDIMENT PRODUCTION FROM HIGHWAY CUTS, AND (2) DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE TYPES OF PLANT COVER AND THE FERTILITY AND CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR QUICK ESTABLISHMENT AND ADEQUATE STABILIZATION OF HIGHWAY CUTS. MEASUREMENTS OF RATES OF RUNOFF, EROSION, AND SEDIMENT PRODUCTION WERE INITIATED IN MAY 1957. DURING THE THREE YEARS FOR WHICH RESEARCH DATA ARE AVAILABLE, THE ANNUAL SOIL LOSS ON SIX PLOTS HAS VARIED FROM A MINIMUM OF 25 TONS PER ACRE TO A MAXIMUM OF 359 TONS PER ACRE. FROST ACTION AND BANK ORIENTATION WERE TWO OF THE PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE EROSION PROCESS ON THE UNPROTECTED ROAD CUTS INCLUDED IN THE STUDY. IN DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF EROSIVE ACTION ON ROADSIDE CUTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SLOPE AND ORIENTATION WHEN COMPOUNDED WITH VARYING CONDITIONS OF WEATHER, COMPANION STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE THE CURTAILING EFFECTS OF VEGETATIVE COVER ON THESE EROSIVE FACTORS. THE VEGETATIVE STUDIES SHOW THAT MULCHING IS NECESSARY TO ANCHOR SEED AND FERTILIZER ON BANK SLOPES OF 2:1 OR STEEPER UNDER PIEDMONT UPLAND CONDITIONS. A GOOD MULCH PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST RAINDROP IMPACT, RUNOFF, EROSION, AND FROST ACTION. IT ALSO INSULATES AGAINST SUMMER HEAT, AND RETAINS MOISTURE UNTIL THE VEGETATION HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME WELL ESTABLISHED. ADAPTIVE PLANTS ON PROPERLY FERTILIZED AREAS CAN DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE COVER WHICH WILL CONTROL EROSION ON THESE AREAS. CROWNVETCH WAS THE MOST PROMISING PERENNIAL LEGUME FOR ROADBANK VEGETATION IN THE PROJECT AREA, AND HAS SHOWN MORE GOOD QUALITIES THAN ANY PLANT TESTED.

Supplemental Notes:

24 Pp, 17 FIG, 4 TAB

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